If the name J. Peterman Company sounds familiar, say circa a couple of decades ago, but you can't quite place it, there's a very good chance that you're remembering it from the roll this real life brand played in the wildly popular sitcom series Seinfeld.

For part of that show’s run, the character of Elaine Benes (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) worked for The J. Peterman Company and no doubt many, especially those outside of the States, thought that it was a fictional brand, created as part of the show's plot.

I can't recall precisely when I learned that such was not the case and that the J. Peterman Company was indeed a real life, fresh and blood (or at least fabric and buttons) brand, but it was a good many years ago now and the fact that they were such has always delighted me - just as their inventory of elegant goods, coupled with what has to be the most appealing online catalog I've ever seen, does as well.The J. Peterman Company was founded nearly three decades ago now, back in 1987, when I was a mere slip of a child. It was launched by a dynamic chap named, as one might imagine, John Peterman, who on top of being a minor league ball player, was a passionate entrepreneur who wished to tap into the vogue, at the time, for high end safari and travel related styles.

From the very get-go, the company has been embed with a sense of whimsy and history, while also being firmly grounded in the here and now.

Their catalogs are world famous for their ingenuity - a marriage of beautiful drawings and photographs alike accompany the products contained within - and the descriptive, engaging stories that bring each product all the more to life. The combination of these elements give their catalogs, and website, a novel-like quality that is vastly appealing and still wonderfully unique amongst their peers.

In a way, the J. Peterman Company is hard to sum in a single sentence, and surely that has been part of their appeal and ability to ride out nearly thirty years of epic changes in the fashion world to still remain a strong player in such.

With items, the brand happily refers to as "uncommonly good stuff", sourced from the furthest corners of the globe and chicly curated in their catalog and on their website, there is a great deal to appreciate and delight in when viewing J. Peterman's sophisticated offerings.

The sense of classicism that pervades the brand's products - which include menswear, women's wear and home goods - lends it an instant vintage inspired feel and indeed, many of their offerings are intentionally created to be vintage reproduction or heavily vintage influenced pieces, which helps to make J. Peterman a brand that should be on any yesteryear fashion fan's radar.

I've long admired the company's offerings and was genuinely surprised and thrilled alike when a representative from J. Peterman contacted me earlier this year to see if I'd be interested in working together.

My review items were promptly shipped and arrived in no time, tucked into a sturdy cardboard box with beautiful branding and packaging throughout. In fact, the dress arrived in a plastic garment bag and on a good quality hanger, something that I don't believe I've ever received from any other brand that I've shopped from or worked with over the years.

Care is clearly put into each item and order, and there was an unmistakable air of luxury to every element of my my shipment - very much including the fashions themselves.

The Short Sleeve 1947 dress, a lively mid-century cut coupled with a punchy multi-colour oversized plaid pattern, instantly appealed to me, not only for its name, but for the vibrant colours it contained.

I knew, based on the measurements provided in its listing, that this would be a very long (re: maxi length) dress on me and that such was a gamble (my hourglass shaped, 5'2" frame doesn't always take kindly to ankle grazing frocks), but the garment so appealed to me that I decided it was well worth the venture. After, all, I figured, surely Mr. Peterman himself would approve of my sense of worldly daring in this regard.

With the bag, which I also knew would be on the generously sized side of things, I was looking for a piece quite unlike any that I presently own, in terms of its dimensions, and this gorgeous straw tote delivered in spades on that front.

Both items are extremely well made. There's quality, care and top-notch workmanship at play with each, and they have the added bonus of playing together very nicely in the scope of the same outfit.

The weather around these parts has been on the grey, rainy, cloud strewn sky side of things a great deal this month and while a a sunnier setting would have been even more ideal for an ensemble this rich in summertime notes, sometimes one simply has to play the cards their dealt.

Thus, to up the warm weather vibe of both these pieces, Tony and I recently hightailed it to a small strip of beach in the nearby town of Peachland to grab some outfit shoots by the water's edge.

It was quite a nippy afternoon and a coat or jacket would not have been out of the question in the slightest, but I didn't want to obscure this charming frock too much, so I opted instead to partner it with a fitted cropped cardigan, which had the added bonus of allowing the matching sash tie style belt that the dress includes to remain visible.

The Short Sleeve 1947 dress is made from (light to medium weight) 100% cotton of a very good quality, that one senses will hold up extremely well over the years. It was, and is, true to the sizing provided by the company and I certainly appreciate the richness of the colour palette it boasts.

Likewise, the (fully lined) tote bag is a premium piece made from buttery soft straw that has none of the roughness, sharp texture or brittle quality that many beach totes made from this classic material are prone to including.

Both pieces are a joy to wear and suit the roasty-toasty months, that will soon reach us, to a true tee, and sincerely wish to thank the J. Peterman Company for both of these sophisticatedly stylish review pieces.

Aside from the very shopable catalog that the brand provides, those (in the States) who are looking to add some of J. Peterman's wonderful offerings to their own closet, may wish to enter the incredibly generous $5,000 Shopping Spree Sweepstakes that the company is currently holding on their website until October 1, 2016.

Even if Mother Nature isn't ready to slip into her summertime threads quite yet around these parts, my own wardrobe of such received a lovely boast care of these two beautifully made offerings from a brand that channels the past, while also continually looking forward.

And which stands, to date, as undoubtedly one of the finest and most intriguing brands I've ever had the pleasure of working with.

102 comments:

Jessica, you look gorgeous!! I actually love the maxi length on you, it gives you an air of lady-of-leisure at the lake. The colours are so vibrant, and the accessories are perfect. I love you in punchy colours, you're like me and are drawn to them I think!

I have admired J Peterman from afar, ever since they did that collection based on iconic movie costumes, such as Kim Basinger's minty green robe from LA Confidential. I'm also pleased to see that the length is authentically long - I know it's maxi on you, but on me it would hit lower calf, which is a length I struggle to find.

I am immensely cheered by these vibrant photos! I hope you're having a good week xx

We're definitely two birds of a feather when it comes to vibrant hues. They stoke my energy (which always needs so massively) and call to my creative side at the same time, too. As much as I do enjoy the whole vast colour spectrum, I could never imagine being completely vivid hue-less. I just wouldn't feel quite like myself on the wardrobe front without them.

Thank you very much for your terrific comment. I hope that you guys are having a sunny, delightful tail end of May.

Thank you very much, gorgeous gal - you're such a dear for noticing that. Interestingly, I do as much fairly often with my outfits, it's just that I frequently have gloves on, so such doesn't always end up on camera.

I adore knowing that you're such a big fan of this outfit. Thank you for sharing that with me.

I really love this outfit, Jessica! It's so cheerful, but also so beautiful and unique. I can see why you would have worried about the length of this dress, but it's so becoming on you. It's like it was made to measure, in fact! A fabulous summertime outfit. I'm very impressed about a hanger being included too!! I've never seen the likes either... xx

Hi lovely Laurie, you know, I really suspect that such rings true for many people (aka, you're not alone there in the slightest). And indeed, that's why I opted to kick off my post as I did. Hopefully, as time goes on, they'll gain an even more widespread audience and more folks will come to know that they're not only real, but that they have some deeply awesome offerings, to boot.

Aren't they just wild? For an eclectic soul with a passion for prose, their catalogs speak straight to my soul and I always look forward to each new release of such that they bestow on the fashion world.

Thank you very much, honey. It was a departure from the norm for me (big time), but that's not a negative thing at all and I think that this floor grazing J. Peterman frock has inspired me to give maxis more of a chance in general from here on out.

I thrifted a J. Peterman blouse several years ago and was also surprised to learn it was a real company! It was lovely quality and I would buy more of their items (although hard to find in this neck of the woods). Lovely dress, Jessica!

They really are, that's for sure. In all the years I've been second hand clothing shopping (and that's definitely many at this point), I have never come across one of their garments. Awesome job on finding a blouse on this side of the 49th - I bet that was a very exciting thrifting day!

Jessica, this whole post is just perfection! I adore the color combos of your outfit and they especially set off your lovely hair color. :-) The beach setting is spot on, too. I'm envious of such a photogenic location so close!

I used to follow J. Peterman's catalogs almost a decade ago, but I had since forgotten about them.... so glad for the reminder! Their offerings are delightfully fun to browse through!

Aren't they though? Each one is like a novel unto itself and I find that they speak to my prose loving heart immensely. I'm delighted that I could remind you about these cooler than cool catalogs, dear Lily.

Oh wow! Im totally in love with the color combo here. Blue and orange is such a great pairing and I have an outfit post coming up in a few days that uses that combo. This is a really timeless vintage look and een if the pieces are 80s it feels very 40s to me.

perfect summer dress!!!the length was meant to be! i can see you strolling at a beach - bare feet - with one of your fab straw hats on top and some iced tea and interesting books in that cute tote :-)fabulous!!!big hugs! xxxxxxxx

That sounds like a thoroughly perfect summer day to me, sweet Beate. We've been having an unusually rainy, chilly May here (especially in the last week), so I couldn't quite comfortably go barefoot in the sand on the day we took these snaps, but I very much hope to be able to do so soon.

It sounds like Mother Nature is taking a similar approach on both our ends. This May has been, at times, unusually cold, damp and windy. Far from Victoria Day weekend (last week) kicking off summertime weather, as it often does, it's felt more like we were in mid-autumn as of late (which, in a way, I sort of love, but I am yearning for summer's heat and hope it arrives soon for both of us).

Thank you very much, sweet Lorena. I did have some trepidation about a dress this long, but thankfully, it worked quite nicely on me in the end and I honestly feel like this classic frock has opened me up to the possibility of wearing maxi dresses (and skirts) more often going forward from here.

I see that here, too, big time, and just love it to bits! I've always had a real affinity for 1970s styles (they were something I wore a ton in my early teen years back at the end of the 1990s) and think that I might try weaving them into my wardrobe a bit more often again.

Thank you very much for your great comment, dear Vix. Have a splendid weekend!

J. Peterman! Oh that's funny. I got the Seinfeld connection immediately, likely because I've seen every episode at least 100 times in syndication. Well their clothes are fantastic all the same---love that floral straw tote!

Oh my stars, me, too!!! (Ditto for Friends, Frasier, The Fresh Prince, Third Rock from the Sun, Home Improvement, and a slew of other classic nineties sitcoms - they always whisk me straight back to my youth and I love them all the more for it.)

Thank you! It's really, really great bag. I've never owned a softer or better quality straw one before and know this charmer is going to get a ton of use - especially with all the beaches we have around these parts.

No, dear Jessica, I have never heard of this company before, but I can only say that whatever you wear is fantastic, you do all in such a nice way! I loved this outfit, all - the shrug (short cardi :), the amazing colorful checked dress by J.P.C., hat, straw bag, and the sweet leaf brooch! I love colorful outfits and this one really meets my taste - you look stunning! Hugs and regards!DenisesPlanet.com

Thank you very much, sweet Lisa. I'm wild about the colours here, too, and think that I'll try partnering them with a mustard hued cardigan next time, as I can see that working really nicely with this palette as well.

What gorgeous colours, you look stunning with that dress really making an impact with your auburn locks.i think the length suits you very well and makes your legs look long. Your accessories are spot on as usual, and I think you will brighten up summer even more in that ensemble. Many hugs dearest Jessica xx

What a kind, beautiful bevy of compliments, dear Emily. Thank you so very much for each and every one of them - completely including saying that you think this frock gives my short, stubby legs some massively needed extra length. If that's not a point favour of maxi dresses, I don't know what is! :)

That dress is so lovely on you. What great colours and the hat just pulls it all together. The bag is very good for Summer and will go with everything! It is a great colour - not too light or dark. Shirt waister dresses are a big trend for summer and suit many occasions. I love the connection to 1947, the year the New Look was launched by Dior. With Best Wishes form the UK, Elizabeth xx

Thank you sweetly, dear Elizabeth. I'm an epicly huge fan of the New Look (in fact, my all-time favourite ten year span, from a fashion stand point, is that of 1947 - 1957) and was drawn to this cheerful frock all the more because of that connection, too. Great vintage fashion loving minds! :)

Thank you very much, sweet Tanith. This was such an "outside of my comfort zone" length, but you know, I think it worked in the end and I honestly feel more inspired to try (further garments involving) maxi lengths from here on out.

You look great in that dress. So nice for the summer with the neutral straw bag. I love straw purses and totes, especially when paired with a light summery dress and sandals. Looks great anywhere...beach, picnic, travelling.

Don't they though? This bag is the bee's knees and I just love it to bits. Plus, it is, by far, the best made and highest quality straw bag I've ever owned, so I sense it will hold up well for many, many summers' worth of usage.

I hope that you're having a great week and that all is well on your end, lovely April, as we head into the last weekend of May.

That's so funny, I had no idea it was a real brand! A real brand that apparently makes some great clothes. I really love this dress on you. The vivid blue looks amazing on you, and the longer length is actually really flattering. I see 30s and 40s maxi dresses on Etsy once in a while, and while they can be a bit intimidating, you're really pulling it off. Utter fabulosity.

Thank you very much, sweet Jessica. I was genuinely surprised - and delighted - that the length of this dress worked on me in the end. Between the floor grazing hemline and the wide print, it easily could have overwhelmed my short figure, but thankfully, I don't feel as though it did - which is all the more of a testiment to the excellent tailoring of J. Peterson's offerings. Not only that, but it has honestly inspired me to reach for maxi lengths a little more often going forward from here.

That dress is stunning!!! I had to click on the link to the site before I could continue reading bc I'm on such a maxi dress kick (and plaid...though I haven't shared that much on the blog lately involving plaid). The way you styled this is amazing! I loved the Seinfeld/J Peterman history...crazy! XOLauren-Blairwww.prefertobedemure.com

Plaid absolutely, thoroughly rocks! It's one of my top three favourite patterns ever and I wear it the whole year through. I really look forward to hearing/seeing more about how you've been rocking it lately.

The J. Peterman company is so smart to get in touch with you because this is such a great look. Adorable. So chic. I am so excited that this company is back. I just got my new catalogue in the mail and I can't wait to order something. Just like the old days!

Thank you ever so much, darling gal. I really like how this red straw hat and plaid maxi dress teamed together, too. Now, just for some warm weather (it's raining buckets again this weekend) to actually put them to good use while I lounge on the beach... :)

What a lovely compliment, honey, thank you so much! I definitely second your thoughts on the timeless-ness of this outfit and think that such applies to a lot of J. Peterman's offerings, which is no small part of the reason why they can be such a great choice for us vintage adoring folks.

What a lovely compliment, honey, thank you so much! I definitely second your thoughts on the timeless-ness of this outfit and think that such applies to a lot of J. Peterman's offerings, which is no small part of the reason why they can be such a great choice for us vintage adoring folks.

Thank you very much, dear Melanie. It is a bit of a departure from my usual style, I agree - and one that has more of both a 30s and 70s style than I typically sport. I like that though and don't ever want my style to become overly predictable. Shaking things up can be a lot of fun, as this summer-y outfit was, and in this case, it's helped inspired me to be a little bolder when it comes to maxi length garments from now on. So a win-win there for sure. :)

Have been a fan of J. Peterman for a long time. Their pieces are truly timeless and their product descriptions are unparalleled in the world of catalog shopping. I love everything about this dress, the plaid, the colors, the cut. And, of course, you styled it beautifully as always :)

Wonderfully well said, dear Theresa. I concur entirely and am still flush with giddiness from adding my first two J. Peterman offerings to my closet. I hope that more will join them as time goes on - and no matter what, I'll be a devoted fan of this chic brand and their cooler-than-cool catalogs.

Thank you very much, sweet Nikki. I'm very much smitten with this cheerful summertime frock, too, and think that it will be quite easy to transition into fall (at least early fall) by playing up the yellow in the plaid - which I'm really looking forward to doing.

Thank you very much, my dear. I love all colours, but to tend to (in general) part ways with pastels fairly quickly as summer rolls around. Blues, teals, deep pinks, purples, reds, grassy greens, and even black are all especially common colours for during the summer months.

You're as bright as the sun, my dear Jessica!No, honestly, I'm not trying to be poetic.. the fist moment I've seen your picture in this post - WHOA.. the bursting colors made me smile.My favorite clothes are chosen just like that - I love what makes me smile. If I'm shopping, and see an item that pulls my lips apart into a smile - it's worth having. :)Gorgeous outfit!Great scenery!

That is so deeply true, dear Mariaja. The instant happiness factor of an item can be a fantastic indicator of its long term success in one's closet. For me personally, too, if I look at a piece and can instantly picture one or more whole outfits centered around it, then I know it has a real fighting chance (of being worn often).

Many thanks for your terrific comment. I hope that you're having a sunny, wonderful weekend, my lovely friend (we're well here, though it's raining buckets worth again this weekend).

Oh, I absolutely love this dress! If definitely stands out on their website and I also like the orange version but the plaid is certainly the best. It looks like a real staple vintage style maxi dress that can be worn throughout the spring, summer and autumn. Top choice! xx

Thank you very much, sweet Cate. I really dig the orange version, too, but as not all shades of orange play nicely with my colouring (I usually need to them to be very light, as in peach and coral tones, or very dark to work becomingly on me), I opted to the blue plaid instead just to be on the safe side.

Jessica, my mind has been BLOWN. I am a huge Seinfeld fan and I never for a second thought that J Peterman were a real company. I want to buy their stuff for the novelty now - so it's just as well they make beautiful clothing. No really though, I am sitting here reading the monologues for each item and giggling a little ahhh! When I saw this dress on you I instantly assumed it was vintage, such a wonderful dress for a lakeside stroll. I hope it warms up in your part of the world soon - I on the other hand am waiting for it to cool down. And now, I am going to go back to reading all of the product descriptions for each of the J Peterman items - I just love it!!!

Isn't their catalog a serious delight? It's unlike any other I've ever encountered and will keep me coming back for each new one that they release. The whimsy, fun, and frankly, great writing, that goes into each can't be overstated.

Thank you very much for your terrific comment. I hope that warm weather greets you again soon, too - we're experiencing a lull in it ourselves at the moment, as we get hit with scads of rain here again this weekend (soooo strange for our part of the world in late May).

Hello Jessica, I see you amazing and very colorful! You've got me curious about this company and its catalog, but especially these photographs are charming.These colors bring the days of sunshine and the joy of outdoor trips, I really like the brooch in the shape of maple leaf (by the way I love maple syrup! Heheh), as well as the stock exchange and yellow nail polish on your nails! This is one of your clothes that I love most!Good weekend

Thank you sweetly, dear Serena. I'm delighted to know that you like this cute vintage maple leaf brooch, too. Fun fact about me: I'm wild about vintage jewelry that pertains to Canada and have amassed a lovely collection of such, including many different maple leaf pins, over the years, which I'm always looking to add more to.

Absolutely gorgeous! I love these colors together! It's such a perfect color combination! Love how you paired the straw bag and accessories with this too! How fun to hear of this company and the air of luxury around their items! <3

Thank you very much, sweet dear. There really is an air of such to everything J. Peterman creates and I can't help but feel that such seems to suit the carefree, easy-going days of summer all the better.

Oh my gosh Jessica this is outfit perfection! This dress is a dream on you and I adore the bag. Your hat really tops it off too, you look beautiful. I have been a huge fan of Seinfeld since I was a little kid so this is just amazing hehe x

Isn't it though? It really makes one wish that more companies from TV shows were actually real. It's marvelous for us classic fashion fans that this one is and I feel very fortunate to be able to share about J. Peterman here with all my lovely readers.

How gorgeous you look, Jessica! Beautiful styling, head to toe. Red and blue, flowy skirt, fantastic hat and bag, and thoughtful accessories. I looked up their catalog - it's wonderful. I wish they had plus sizes, but that's just me. :)

Thank you ever so much, sweet Natalia. I know that some of J. Peterman's offerings go up to at least a US size 18, but that certainly does not encompass everyone by any means and I second your hope that they continue to expand their size range further as time goes on. No doubt doing so will only help them to flourish all the more.

When I saw you in the photos I thought "wow, Jess is doing the seventies!". To me this look is exactly what I remember from the seventies. I'm not a fan of maxi skirts, but you look so charming wearing this long skirt. And I think you will get lots of wear out of the roomy straw bag, which literally screams beach. Now I've eaten the ice cream leftovers and will go out again. XOXO :)

It's definitely the season for ice cream (which is, hands down, one of my favourite foods ever - I definitely have more of a "salty tooth" than a sweet one, but gosh, do I adore ice cream something fierce!) and I'm happy to know that you were able to tuck into some this weekend. We did as well, care of those incredibly tasty Magnum brand ice cream bars, which I only very recently discovered are both gluten and egg free, so I can safely eat certain varieties (sooo delighted about that!).

Thank you! I wouldn't say that I was aiming for a super period accurate look here, but instead borrowing vintage beachwear inspiration from the years spanning the 30s (very much including the vogue for ankle gracing beach pajamas back then) to the 70s, and it's fun to know that it was the latter that jumped out at you most here. It's certainly a bit of a departure from my usual styles, but I certainly enjoyed it and feel like it's warmed me up to wearing maxi length garments a bit more now.

Firstly, what gloriously yellow nail varnish! It matches the dress so well! The colours in this dress are lovely and I can see why you were drawn to it. You picked a perfect location to show it and the bag off. They sound like a really interesting company, I will take a look.

Oh, this dress is so beautiful! I had never heard of this company before, and upon looking at their website found it to be positively enchanting. Your outfit is absolutely stunning and I love how you accessorized it.

Isn't it though? J. Peterman really struck on something original and deeply interesting in terms of how they present their offerings and I will continue to be a fan of their truly engaging catalogs for as long as they produce them.

I'm delighted that I could introduce this company to you as well and to know that you've become enamored with their awesome way of presenting their offerings, too.

I'm Jessica, a lifelong lover of all things antique and vintage, especially those from the 1930s, 40s and 50s.

This blog is my visual scrapbook in which I record and share my thoughts on the multitude of sources, people and products that inspire and feed a modern gal's addiction to the past. I also post about the vintage clothes, hairstyles and make-up looks that I adore wearing.

Stay a spell and have a blast as we explore the incomparably fantastic world of vintage history and fashion together.

All images used on this site are credited to their original posters/creators/sources,
however if at any time you would prefer not to see one of your images here, please email me and I'll take it down right away.

PS...I just wanted to say thank you very much for visiting and to tell you that you're equal parts awesome and beautiful.